One Hot And Sexy Batman

I was sucked into a topic here at Comic Dish that is centered around the exploits of Sexy Batman. I have an alternate version of this image in the thread. (Some of the other images there are on the mature side.)

So this here is the classic shot of the hero walking away from a massive explosion.

Yum.

More Concepts

More concept art.

Drawing again!

I was asked by a long time friend of mine to collaborate with her on a prequel story to her comic "Adrastus". Though I'm always hesitant to even think about working on a comic, I really need to face this fear of mine. And who knows, maybe this is what I need to get my butt in gear and work on my own comic.

These here are the first sketches of the four characters the prequel will revolve around. Sketched with a simple Bic ballpoint pen (red) and a mechanical pencil, then inked in Manga Studio. I'm starting to love Manga Studio, and it may be the program I use to make the comic.

Technology Sucks

I spent an hour today trying to correct the Wacom driver issue with Manga Studio, and it still isn't fixed. (Followed all the guides I could find on the internet.) I have been having the most terrible time getting this comic off the ground. And now things are starting to fall apart. Perhaps I should start small. Do a carefree, simple comic. That way I can familiarize myself with the programs and work out my own process. I need to experiment a bit. But right now, I'm completely overwhelmed to the point where I'm starting to dread working on it. That's not the place I need to be. I want to have fun with this, but all I'm feeling is anxiety and, well, dread. Something isn't right. Perhaps I need to take a step back for a moment. Or perhaps I have been pushing myself to hard.

I do have a manuscript that needs finalized for print. Then there's always the story I worked on for this past NaNoWriMo. This could be the nice break I need. And now my mind switches to the Steampunk story I have in the pipeline. Maybe I need to do what my grandmother says and make a list of the things I want to complete that day. It worked for Uma Thurman in KILL BILL.

Sketch Dump

Ever since I've hooked up my new 26" LCD TV as a monitor, I've noticed how it would better serve someone who only surfs the net or watches videos. When it comes to art, this LCD TV is lacking in color management. So after I get some type of stand or table for the TV, I'm stuck using it. At least I can hope over to another computer to do color corrections. My goal is to get a new 23" hp monitor I found at Best Buy. But since my funds are lacking, I'll be going back to the square 19" monitor.

Anyway, the first script for MONSTER SOUP is finished. I will be kicking myself into gear to being the layouts. If I can get up to five pages a week, I would call that my comfort zone. It's a lot of work, and I know I can't do the five pages a week to begin with.

Until those pages see the light of the internet, I'll keep posting random sketches.

Yes, I've changed my signature yet again. *sigh* I'm keeping this one, though. It's simple. It looks like a "D" but also a "B", and it also looks like a pitchfork. Works for me.

And for an added bonus, here's the warden from MONSTER SOUP.

Gargoyles make such cute humans.

It's Not Potted Meat

What started out as a little sketch ended up as this.

I Swear This Isn't Blood

I've began editing the first draft of MAY THE DEAD SPEAK (Book 2 in the EDEN series). I've been dragging my heels on this one. As with anyone else who writes, they know of the pain I'm talking about. Editing Hell. And it is. My mind gets to this point where I'm scrutinizing every word in a sentence. My pages begin to look like someone has bled all over them. I go so deep into editing-mode that I begin to lose sight of the story, the characters, and what's going on. That's when I have to take a break and mentally smack myself around. I have to slip into the mindset of a reader and not the writer. If it reads well, then move on. I need to stop with the editor mindset. Things tend to sound better when I'm actually reading instead of ripping my hair out over a silly comma placement.

I imagine myself being trailed by a typo demon or monster that pops up when I begin this phase. Sure, I may catch some of my mistakes, or change a sentence around to make it sound better, but this part always runs the risk of creating new typos. I've noticed this with my other books. After I've pulled my hair out over the editing process and managed to get to a place where I feel comfortable, I'll go back months later, grab my printed copy and discover these new typos. My stomach knots. My forehead hits my palm. I'm left feeling like an idiot. Tis my constant struggle with that unattainable goal of perfection.

Maybe I need to cruise the internet for some motivational quotes...

Rebirth of a Blog

I'm wanting to start using this blog more. I have plenty of others scattered about on the internet cosmos. I have given thought to merging my art blog with this one. Thus the new name here; "Pen, Paper, & Pixels." (Ooo, it uses an Oxford comma.) It's vague enough to encompass writing and art. Works for me!

Now it's time to look at new themes. Something pretty, classy, and sleek.

-Devin Blake

November already?!

That time of the year again--that mad dash to 50,000 words within 30 days. I've been bouncing back and forth between two stories to write. While I woke up this morning, set on one story, by the close of the day, I switched to the other. I may end up working on both at once. So would that count as 100,000 in one month, or still 50,000? I'll go with the latter. Too bad I can't count blog entries and chats as part of the count! Yeah, didn't think so.

2,000 words a day. That's my goal.

Today's count: 2,453

A New Way

I'm finally putting my foot down and beginning my adventure into the book called "The Artist's Way." I have tried to do this before, but I was using a PDF version of the book and ended up doing a week's worth of the morning pages. But now, I went to the bookstore yesterday and bought the paperback. Finally, I'm going to begin this process the proper way. I already started back on the morning pages this morning. Man, I hate writing long hand. Writing now on the computer I'm flying through these words. A pen in my hand is so much slower. Talk about lag!

So today I begin reading Week One. What will it have in store for me? When I read the PDF, it was only up to Week One. I think I was waiting for when I purchased a hardcopy. Now that I have it, there will be no more excuses.

I will use this blog to track my progress. Let's hope I can make it through the 12 weeks without throwing in the towel.

*grabs the book to begin reading*